Jacks close out 2024 season

VASHON — The No. 10 seed Quincy Jackrabbits traveled across the Cascades to begin the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament over the weekend, opening with a 2-1 win over No. 7 Toppenish before seeing their season coming to a close with a loss to No. 2 Vashon Island.

“We felt good, we were ready,” Quincy head coach Hector Vaca said. “Mentally and physically, we were feeling really well — the boys were excited to play.”

In the second round against the Wildcats, Quincy sophomore Ken Morales put the Jacks up 1-0 midway through the first half, before Toppenish answered with a goal of its own to tie the match at one at the break. With seven minutes remaining on the clock, Jackrabbit sophomore Erick Zepeda gave Quincy a 2-1 lead with a goal that sent the Jacks into the state quarterfinals.

“I think they were nervous,” Vaca said. “There was some jitters coming into the game, but once we got acquainted and once we adapted to that, it was all us. The boys responded well to the physicality of the game; you could tell they were hungry for the win.”

Friday’s win was the first time Quincy reached the state quarterfinals since 2016 when it competed in the 2A classification; the Jacks lost in the second round in both 2022 and 2023 — a 3-2 loss to Seattle Academy as the No. 3 seed in 2022, and a 3-2 shootout loss to Connell as the state’s No. 1 seed in 2023.

“It was great for the kids, great for the coaching staff, great for the program,” Vaca said. “Something that I and the coaching staff preached to the boys is, ‘You’ve got to believe in yourself.’ I feel like a lot of times our boys don’t believe that they’re capable or good enough to stack up with the best, and this year and this win that we had proves that we are capable of keeping up with basically anybody.”

After taking down Toppenish, Quincy was sent into a quarterfinal match against the host team, the No. 2 seed Vashon Island Pirates. Quincy went into halftime holding a 1-0 lead with the goal scored by Zepeda, but the Pirates scored two second-half goals in five minutes to ride into the final four with a 2-1 win.

Vashon Island’s first goal came on a penalty kick, and the second was scored off a corner kick.

“Kind of like a pinball-style goal, it was off of a corner kick – the ball was bouncing everywhere, it landed on one of their striker’s feet and he just touched it in,” Vaca said. 

Quincy finishes the 2024 season with a 14-6-2 overall record, a second-place finish in the Caribou Trail League and a district championship.

“The boys did really well this season, I’m really proud of every one of them and proud of the success they had this season,” Vaca said. “This was all them – it was 100% their effort, their play. I was just there to make the little adjustments. All credit to the players.”

In the May 11 district title game against Cascade (Leavenworth), the Jacks handed the Kodiaks their first loss of the season with a 1-0 shootout win.

“The boys were able to go in and relax and enjoy the game without all the pressure,” Vaca said. “To us, going into that district championship game, it wasn’t like a must-win: a do-or-die type of atmosphere. It was more relaxed, kind of like prep for the state tournament.”

Vaca spoke highly of the future; of the 22 players on Quincy’s roster, 16 will return in 2025 including all-leaguers in sophomore Brayan Nunez, junior Kasey Toevs, Zepeda, junior Killian Roos and junior Daniel Mendoza.

“They bring back experience, the hunger to get back into state and a lot of leadership,” Vaca said. “Brayan Nunez is going to be a big part, Erick Zepeda just threw the team on his back this weekend and was all over the place.”

Quincy will graduate six seniors from this year’s squad; seniors Alexander Murillo, Efrain Pena, Francisco Latour, Marco Arredondo, Guillermo Gomez and Rafa Perez. Four of the six seniors were defenders for the Jacks.

“They were our anchors, they were our leaders,” Vaca said. “I’m not going to lie, they were the first ones to goof off and make it a good atmosphere — start jokes and make it a more lively atmosphere at practice and games. But they were also the first ones to speak up. They were a big presence in our team.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Box scores

vs. Toppenish

QCY: 1-1 2

TOP: 1-0 1

vs. Vashon Island

QCY: 1-0 1

VAS: 0-2 2

    Quincy senior Guillermo Gomez brings the ball up the field during an April 11 match against Chelan. Gomez is one of six Jackrabbit seniors graduating off of this year’s roster.
  

    Quincy junior Kasey Toevs, right, heads the ball during an April 11 match against Chelan. Toevs is one of five Jackrabbits returning next season who received all-league honors this season.
  

    Quincy sophomore Gerardo Silvas (18) rushes past a Chelan defender during an April 11 match. Head Coach Hector Vaca said the Jacks have 13 sophomores that will return next season.